25 New Decorating Secrets the Pros Swear By

You know those people who seem to have great taste without even trying? You're about to be one of them. Here, top designers share the best insider tips and tricks in the business.

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Start with your color scheme.

Start with your color scheme.

For a head-to-toe makeover, the first step is creating a palette. "I come up with a basic color scheme for the whole house, and then I take that from room to room," reveals Gary McBournie, a designer based in Boston. "The color scheme here is actually really simple — a royal blue, a paler blue, a soft orange, a grass green, and that's pretty much it. But it plays itself out in different ways in different rooms."

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Put investment pieces front and center.

Put investment pieces front and center.

If you truly love something, you'll want to put it on display. "Use and enjoy your antiques and unique finds, especially in a utilitarian room like the bathroom," advises designer Bunny Williams.

Start with your color scheme.

For a head-to-toe makeover, the first step is creating a palette. "I come up with a basic color scheme for the whole house, and then I take that from room to room," reveals Gary McBournie, a designer based in Boston. "The color scheme here is actually really simple — a royal blue, a paler blue, a soft orange, a grass green, and that's pretty much it. But it plays itself out in different ways in different rooms."

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Put investment pieces front and center.

If you truly love something, you'll want to put it on display. "Use and enjoy your antiques and unique finds, especially in a utilitarian room like the bathroom," advises designer Bunny Williams.

Francesco Lagnese

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Fake height with low furniture.

"Create strong verticals and avoid the horizontal," recommends designer Todd Romano. "I adore large mirrors because they add scale to a room. I also kept the furniture low-slung, so the rooms seem taller."

James Merrell

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Give window trims a splash of color.

"Window trim is an often-overlooked opportunity to make a statement," says designer Meg Braff. Jeffrey Bilhuber agrees. "I often end up painting them green, to blend in with the landscape," the eclectic decorator says. "Or sometimes I paint them pitch black, so the muntins practically disappear in the evening."

Thomas Loof

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Warm up a room with mirrors.

Mirrored panels like the ones lining this alcove can be elegant — but don't just slap them up, designer Jan Showers warns. Large sheets of mirror will look commercial, so try a sectioned pattern in the traditional French style instead.

Courtesy of Jan Showers

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Don't skimp on the sofa.

Don't postpone a makeover because of naturally messy kids. "Put your money into a comfortable, well-made sofa that you'll have forever," advises Krista Ewart, a designer based in California. "You don't have to deny yourself that expensive designer fabric you love — just put it on something small, like a pillow."

Douglas Friedman

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Amplify neutrals with texture.

Neutral decor can be interesting — just include a variety of materials. "I used a range — from fine-gauge and open-weave linen, to raw silk and taffeta, to cotton velvet and distressed velvet," says California-based designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano. "Not only that, there's also the contrast of matte sheens that absorb the light, and lustrous sheens that reflect it."

Amy Neunsinger

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Implement the 50/150 rule.

For the perfect color family, mix one batch of paint 50% lighter than the base and another 150% darker. "That's a fail­safe method for striping a wall," says Mary Douglas Drysdale, who designed this bold blue kitchen. "It's also a very architectural way of using color."

Francesco Lagnese

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Go deep in small spaces.

Small living spaces don't have to feel cramped. "See how these living room chairs have smallish arms," says designer Elizabeth Pyne. "Most of their square footage is given to the seat, so you can curl up in them. They feel luxurious and roomy even though they're not big."

Ngoc Minh Ngo

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Favor value-add paint colors.

A temporary space can look beautiful, even with a small budget. "We are so used to having painters sand for ages to produce mirror-smooth walls, but I wasn't about to spend the money to do that in a rental," says designer Max Sinsteden of his bright green entryway. "It turns out the irregular surface just sparkles all the more."